Launched Backpacks for Peace Service Learning Project on 02/23/15

There is nothing better than seeing an idea become a reality! After tireless hours of planning and fundraising by our teams in Liberia and the U.S., we launched the Backpacks for Peace Service Learning Project on Monday, February 23, 2015. We have embarked on a three-month training program that will teach 20 youth in Liberia from ages 12 to 20 how to:

1. Operate and maintain a treadle sewing machine
2. Transform recycledmaterial into backpacks that are needed by Liberian students
3. Cultivate innovation with limitedresources
4. Build relationships beyond personal and national borders

 

 Video of the students practicing their pedaling during the first week of the program.

Below are pictures of the first week of this training program. Themain focus was to teach our students how to properly operate the sewingmachines, because precision in pedaling minimizes the breakage ofneedles and thread. The second objective was to teach the initialstage of production, which is preparing the plastic.

Photosof the first day of the youth practicing to pedal the sewingmachine. We offer two training sessions, one morning and one in the afternoon.

 Thesethree photos show the steps 1, 2 and 3 of the backpack production. The photo on the left showsthe students washing the plastic to ensure it is clean. The middle photo shows thestudents packing the plastic in groups to dry it . The photo on the right shows the students hanging the sewn strips of plastic on the line to finish the drying, before they are joined together to create the "fabric" for making the backpacks.

Backpacks for Peace Sponsors:

• Sundance Family Foundation, based in Minnesota, gave a $3,000grant. 
• African Dream Academy supplies the recycled plastic and Liberia Partner.
• Uniting Distant Stars donors contributed $1,260 for this project.

Along with the Backpacks for Peace project, our 20 young trainees and 30 more Liberian youth will participate via Google Hangout in the Nobel Peace Prize Youth Forum on March 6. 2015, at Augsburg College in Minnesota. This forum will showcase our Backpacks for Peace project along with the other great service learning projects developed by youth groups in Minnesota.

Our youth will be involved in the forum for about three hours during the morning session, due to a six-hour difference between Liberia and Minnesota. Take a look at what happened last year during this program to connect youth on both sides of the Atlantic in a virtual environment. This year we are taking a more active role and will participate by:

1. Listening to a speech by LeivSydnes of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (2013 Nobel Laurette)
2. Asking one question of LeivSydnes.
3. Joining the World Cafe discussion that focuses on three questions about peace building in their communities and schools that can be turned into actionable initiatives.

This year Uniting Distant Stars will be the host for the forum in Liberia. We had a successful first test of the Google Hangout On Air platform with the much appreciated assistance from the forum tech crew this past week. Also, we raised $385 in four days for the March 6 activities that will be used to provide refreshments for the participants as well as logistical needs (projector, generator, etc) to ensure a proper connection.

The photo on right is from the 2014 NPPYF with our co-hosts iLab Liberia. Photo on left is from the January 2015 meet & greet Google Hangout with the young cabinet members of youthrive.

youthrive is the producer of the Nobel Peace PrizeYouth Forum and a Minnesota Partner organization for Uniting Distant Stars.

Finally, another important announcement: We are now registered as a non-profit in Liberia and anticipate that our programs will be accredited through the Ministry of Education by the end of March 2015. This was a necessary step to show our dedication to providing innovative youth-focused educational programing in Liberia.

We extend our heartfelt Thanks to all our sponsors and donors, who have graciously contributed to these projects!